Statute Details
- Title: Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 7) Order 2014
- Act Code: RELA1983-S551-2014
- Type: Subsidiary legislation (Order)
- Authorising Act: Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275)
- Order Date (Made): 18 August 2014
- Gazette/Publication Reference: SL 551/2014
- Effective Date: 31 August 2014
- Status: Current version as at 27 Mar 2026
- Key Legal Mechanism: Designation of loose-leaf editions as the “sole and only proper law” for specified Acts
What Is This Legislation About?
The Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 7) Order 2014 is an administrative-but-constitutionally significant legal instrument. In plain terms, it is an order by the President that confirms which version of certain Singapore statutes will be treated as the authoritative law in courts and for all legal purposes.
Under the Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Cap. 275), the Law Revision Commissioners prepare revised statutory texts in a “loose-leaf” format. Those loose-leaf editions are intended to consolidate and update the law as at a specified date. However, the loose-leaf format does not automatically become the sole authoritative version for court use. The President’s order is what gives the loose-leaf edition its final legal effect.
This particular Order (No. 7) concerns the Acts listed in its Schedule. It states that, with effect from 31 August 2014, the loose-leaf editions of those Acts shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts. This matters because legal practitioners must be able to rely on a single authoritative text when advising clients, drafting pleadings, or arguing cases.
What Are the Key Provisions?
1. The statutory “loose-leaf” revision process under Cap. 275
The Order is grounded in two key provisions of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act. First, section 10 provides for the Law Revision Commissioners to publish Acts in loose-leaf form, reflecting the Acts “as in force” on a particular date. In this Order, the preamble indicates that the Commissioners published the Acts set out in the Schedule as in force on 1 August 2014.
Second, section 11(3) provides the mechanism for the President to designate the loose-leaf editions as the authoritative legal texts. The Order’s recitals explain that the Commissioners must transmit copies of the loose-leaf editions to the President, and the President may then, by order published in the Gazette, specify that those loose-leaf editions shall be the sole and only proper law of Singapore for the specified Acts.
2. The operative designation: “sole and only proper law”
The core operative provision is contained in the Order’s main paragraph (in the form shown in the extract). It provides that the loose-leaf edition of the Acts in the Schedule shall, with effect from 31 August 2014, be the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
For practitioners, the phrase “sole and only proper law” is not merely descriptive. It is a legal designation that resolves any potential uncertainty about which version of the statute should be treated as authoritative. In practice, this affects how courts interpret and apply the law, and it affects how lawyers cite statutory provisions. If there were multiple competing versions (for example, earlier printings, interim amendments, or unofficial compilations), the President’s order eliminates ambiguity by selecting the loose-leaf edition as the definitive legal text for the relevant Acts.
3. Timing and effective date
The Order specifies a clear effective date: 31 August 2014. This is crucial for legal certainty. Amendments and revisions can occur over time, and the law may change between the “as in force” date used for the loose-leaf publication (here, 1 August 2014) and the date the loose-leaf edition becomes the sole authoritative text (31 August 2014).
Accordingly, when advising on matters that straddle the effective date, counsel should consider whether the relevant statutory provisions were already in force as at 1 August 2014 and whether any subsequent amendments occurred before 31 August 2014. The Order itself does not rewrite substantive law; rather, it designates which consolidated text is authoritative from the effective date.
4. Formalities: made by the President and published in the Gazette
The Order includes the formal enacting formula and the “made on” date: 18 August 2014, by command, with the signature of the Secretary to the Cabinet. The preamble also notes that the President’s order is published in the Gazette. These formalities reflect the constitutional and statutory requirement that the designation of authoritative law must be done through the prescribed official channel.
How Is This Legislation Structured?
Although the extract is brief, the structure is typical of President’s orders made under Cap. 275. The document comprises:
(a) Enacting formula and recitals explaining the legal basis under section 10 and section 11(3) of the Revised Edition of the Laws Act, including the “as in force” date for the loose-leaf publication and the requirement for Presidential designation.
(b) The operative provision stating that, with effect from 31 August 2014, the loose-leaf editions of the Acts set out in the Schedule are the sole and only proper law of Singapore in respect of those Acts.
(c) The Schedule (not shown in the extract) which lists the specific Acts covered by the Order. This Schedule is the practical “scope” of the instrument: it determines which statutes are affected by the designation.
(d) Administrative details such as the “made on” date and the official reference number (AG/LLRD/RA/275/2014/1 Vol. 1), which assist practitioners in locating the Gazette publication and related materials.
Who Does This Legislation Apply To?
This Order does not apply to a class of persons in the way that regulatory statutes do (e.g., employers, licensees, or consumers). Instead, it applies to the legal system’s treatment of certain Acts. Its “audience” is therefore the courts, legal practitioners, and anyone who relies on the authoritative text of the specified statutes.
In practical terms, the Order affects everyone who must use the law in Singapore—litigants, counsel, judges, government agencies, and administrative decision-makers—because courts and tribunals must apply the “proper law” of the relevant Acts. By designating the loose-leaf editions as sole and only proper law, the Order ensures that the legal text used in proceedings is consistent and authoritative.
Why Is This Legislation Important?
Although the Order is short, it plays a foundational role in legal certainty. Singapore’s legal system depends on accurate statutory texts. When laws are consolidated and revised, there is a risk that different versions of the same Act may circulate. The President’s designation under Cap. 275 ensures that, for the Acts in the Schedule, there is one definitive text that courts will treat as authoritative.
For lawyers, the practical significance is immediate. When citing statutory provisions, counsel must ensure that the citations correspond to the authoritative version. The “sole and only proper law” designation reduces the risk of citing outdated amendments or relying on unofficial compilations. It also supports consistent interpretation by ensuring that the text before the court is the legally designated one.
From an enforcement and litigation perspective, the Order can influence how arguments are framed. For example, if a party contends that a particular amendment was not yet in force at the relevant time, the lawyer must still anchor the argument in the correct authoritative text. The effective date (31 August 2014) and the “as in force” date for the loose-leaf publication (1 August 2014) are key reference points for such analysis.
Related Legislation
- Revised Edition of the Laws Act (Chapter 275) — in particular section 10 (publication of Acts in loose-leaf form) and section 11(3) (President’s order designating loose-leaf editions as sole and only proper law)
Source Documents
This article provides an overview of the Revised Edition of the Laws (Section 11(3)) (No. 7) Order 2014 for legal research and educational purposes. It does not constitute legal advice. Readers should consult the official text for authoritative provisions.